UltimateCity Guide Tuscany
Our favourites
Florence Cathedral and Brunelleschi’s dome at dusk, seen from the hills Florence Cathedral and Brunelleschi’s dome at dusk, seen from the hills Rolling hills and a farmhouse near Pienza Siena’s Piazza del Campo and the Fonte Gaia from the Torre del Mangia The Ponte Vecchio and the Vasari Corridor reflected in the Arno at dusk

The region guide to Tuscany, Italy

Best of Tuscany

Brunelleschi’s dome at dusk, the Campo in Siena, cypress roads in the Val d’Orcia, Chianti’s castles among the vines and the sea at Forte dei Marmi.

Where to eatWhat to see
Florence Cathedral and Brunelleschi’s dome at dusk, seen from the hillsFlorence, Siena, MontepulcianoChristmas in TuscanyMarkets, lights and nativity scenesA cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, MontenegroSister guideULTIMATE CruisesLines, ships and itineraries, from river to expeditionThe Matterhorn in winter above ZermattSister guideULTIMATE Ski ResortsSeason dates, hotels, après and ski schools, resort by resort

Your trusted, one‑stop guide to Tuscany

Tuscany is a region of ten journeys: Florence and Fiesole; the vineyards of Chianti; Siena and San Gimignano; the Val d’Orcia, Montalcino and Montepulciano; Pisa and Lucca; the beaches of Versilia; Bolgheri and the Etruscan Coast; the Maremma and the Argentario; Arezzo and Cortona; and the island of Elba. We’ve checked every listing against the venue’s own website or an official source, and we leave out anything we can’t confirm. Every hotel carries a price guide, from € to €€€€.

Tuscany’s MICHELIN stars: the back story

Where to eat

Forty MICHELIN stars

Tuscany·In depth

The MICHELIN Guide Italy 2026 gives Tuscany forty starred restaurants, with three stars at Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence, and twenty-three Bib Gourmands for good cooking at moderate prices.

See every star

Choose your region

Ten region guides, from Florence to the island of Elba.

Florence Cathedral and Brunelleschi’s dome at dusk, seen from the hillsRegion guideFlorenceThe Duomo, the Uffizi and the OltrarnoThe Castello di Brolio above its vineyards in ChiantiRegion guideChiantiCastles among the vinesSiena’s Piazza del Campo and the Fonte Gaia from the Torre del MangiaRegion guideSiena & San GimignanoThe Campo and the towersAn avenue of cypresses off the Via Cassia in the Val d’OrciaRegion guideThe Val d’OrciaCypresses, Brunello and hot springsThe Baptistery, Cathedral and Leaning Tower of Pisa in evening lightRegion guidePisa & LuccaThe Leaning Tower and the wallsBoats on the canal port at Viareggio, with the Torre MatildeRegion guideVersiliaForte dei Marmi and ViareggioThe castle gateway into the village of BolgheriRegion guideBolgheri & the Etruscan CoastSassicaia countryPitigliano on its tufa cliffRegion guideThe Maremma & the ArgentarioHot springs and the wild southArezzo’s Piazza Grande in the eveningRegion guideArezzo & CortonaEastern TuscanyPortoferraio and its harbour on Elba, from the airRegion guideElbaThe island

Plan your trip

Routes and the practical things to know before you go.

Florence Cathedral and Brunelleschi’s dome at dusk, seen from the hillsItineraryA day in FlorenceThe Duomo to San MiniatoThe Castello di Brolio above its vineyards in ChiantiItineraryThe Chianti driveFlorence to SienaFlorence’s rooftops from the cathedral terraces, with Santa Croce and the BargelloBefore you goTuscany essentialsEntry, money, seasonsThe Last Judgement frescoes inside Brunelleschi’s dome, Florence CathedralTicketsMuseum and opera ticketsBook direct

In depth: Tuscany’s back stories

Where to stay, where to eat and how buying works.

The Ponte Vecchio and the Vasari Corridor reflected in the Arno at duskThe back storyWhere to stayPalaces and wine estatesThe barrel cellar of Avignonesi, MontepulcianoThe back storyForty MICHELIN starsFrom Florence to the coastThe Castello di Brolio above its vineyards in ChiantiIn depthBuying propertyHow it worksThe towers of San Gimignano at sunsetDid you know?Fun factsSourced, every one

More of Europe

Our other guides around the Mediterranean.

Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountainsULTIMATE guideMonacoThe principality on the RivieraThe Sagrada Família lit up at nightULTIMATE guideBarcelonaGaudí, the Gothic Quarter and the beachesYachts in Puerto BanúsULTIMATE guideMarbellaThe Costa del SolBlue domes of Oia above the Santorini calderaULTIMATE guideThe Greek IslandsThe Cyclades and beyond

ULTIMATE City Guides: Europe & beyond

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

The Alhambra in Granada in the evening lightSpainULTIMATE AndalusiaSeville, Granada and the Alhambra, Córdoba, Málaga, Cádiz and Jerez, Ronda and the white villages, Doñana and Cabo de Gata.Visit the guide The Acropolis of Athens by day, seen from Philopappos HillGreeceULTIMATE AthensThe Acropolis and the Plaka, rooftop bars facing the Parthenon, the Athens Riviera and the Greek islands: our original guide, and our deepest.Visit the guide The road winding out to the lighthouse on Cap de Formentor, Mallorca, above the open seaSpainULTIMATE Balearic IslandsMallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera side by side, and how to hop between them by ferry.Visit the guide The Sagrada Família lit up at nightSpainULTIMATE BarcelonaGaudí and the Sagrada Família, the Gothic Quarter, four Three-Star MICHELIN kitchens, the beaches and day trips to Montserrat and Girona.Visit the guide Belgrade's old town and the spire of the Cathedral Church of St Michael above the Sava at sunsetSerbiaULTIMATE BelgradeWhere the Sava meets the Danube: a buzzing capital of art, classical music and famous nightlife, with a new waterfront and the mountains of Zlatibor and Kopaonik.Visit the guide The Romanian Athenaeum in its gardenRomaniaULTIMATE BucharestBelle Époque palaces, concerts at the Athenaeum, a buzzing food and coffee scene, and the castles and mountains of the Carpathians.Visit the guide The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the DanubeHungaryULTIMATE BudapestThermal baths, grand coffee houses, ruin bars and MICHELIN-starred dining on both banks of the Danube, with day trips to the Danube Bend and Lake Balaton.Visit the guide A cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegroships & regions)ULTIMATE Cruises (linesThe world’s cruise lines for every budget, from family resort ships to yachts, expedition ships and river boats, with the cruising regions port by port.Visit the guide Blue domes of Oia above the Santorini calderaGreeceULTIMATE Greek IslandsIsland hopping made easy: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Milos and the Cyclades, plus Crete, Rhodes and Corfu, with ferries, beaches, hotels and tavernas.Visit the guide Helsinki Cathedral above the South HarbourFinlandULTIMATE HelsinkiSuomenlinna and the South Harbour, saunas by the sea, Aalto and the Design District, two-starred Palace and day trips to Porvoo and Tallinn.Visit the guide The Golden Horn and the mosques of the old city, IstanbulTurkeyULTIMATE IstanbulTwo continents, one city: Hagia Sophia and the bazaars, Bosphorus ferries, meyhanes and rooftop bars, Sinan’s hammams and the car-free Princes’ Islands.Visit the guide The Triple Bridge over the LjubljanicaSloveniaULTIMATE LjubljanaSlovenia’s green, car-free capital of river cafés and Plečnik’s bridges, an hour from Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, the caves and the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth TowerUnited KingdomULTIMATE LondonRoyal palaces and the Thames, world-class museums, West End theatre, grand hotels, and the restaurants and bars of Soho, Mayfair and the City.Visit the guide La Seu, Palma’s Gothic cathedral, and the Almudaina above the old sea wall, seen from the Parc de la MarSpainULTIMATE MallorcaPalma’s cathedral and palace hotels, the UNESCO Tramuntana, Deià and Sóller, nine MICHELIN-starred kitchens, and Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.Visit the guide Yachts in Puerto BanúsSpainULTIMATE MarbellaWhitewashed lanes and orange trees in the Old Town, the yachts of Puerto Banús, beach clubs on the Golden Mile and day trips to Ronda and Gibraltar.Visit the guide Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountainsOur sister guideULTIMATE MonacoThe Casino and Monte-Carlo’s palace hotels, the Prince’s Palace on the Rock, superyachts in Port Hercule, Larvotto’s beach clubs and the Grand Prix streets.Visit the guide The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaMontenegroULTIMATE PodgoricaMontenegro’s relaxed capital of rivers and café terraces, and the gateway to the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, Cetinje and the mountains.Visit the guide The Sebilj fountain and the square of BaščaršijaBosnia & HerzegovinaULTIMATE SarajevoWhere East meets West at a line in the pavement: an Ottoman bazaar, Habsburg boulevards, Bosnian coffee and the 1984 Olympic mountains, with Mostar two hours away.Visit the guide The Matterhorn in winter above ZermattOur sister guideULTIMATE Ski Resorts (Europe & North America)Ski resorts in Europe and North America, country by country, for every budget: season dates, hotels, mountain restaurants, après, ski schools and getting there.Visit the guide The Stone Bridge over the VardarNorth MacedoniaULTIMATE SkopjeA 15th-century stone bridge between a 21st-century square and an Ottoman bazaar, Kenzo Tange’s concrete city, Matka Canyon, and Lake Ohrid three hours away.Visit the guide The gilded domes of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, SofiaBulgariaULTIMATE SofiaRoman streets beneath the city, golden domes, warm mineral springs and a mountain at the end of the main boulevard.Visit the guide Skanderbeg Square with the Et’hem Bey MosqueAlbaniaULTIMATE TiranaAn Ottoman mosque painted with waterfalls, museums in bunkers, Blloku’s cafés and the Dajti cable car, with Berat, Gjirokastër, the Alps and the Riviera within reach.Visit the guide The tiled roof of St Mark’s Church in Zagreb’s Upper TownCroatiaULTIMATE ZagrebCroatia’s elegant capital of cafés, museums and markets, and the gateway to Plitvice Lakes, Istria, Dubrovnik and the islands of the Adriatic.Visit the guide Bixby Creek Bridge on the Big Sur coastUSAULTIMATE CaliforniaSan Francisco, Napa and Sonoma, Big Sur and the Pacific Coast Highway, San Diego, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe and the national parks.Visit the guide The beach at Rosemary Beach on the Gulf of MexicoUSAULTIMATE FloridaOrlando and the theme parks, Palm Beach, Tampa Bay, Sarasota, St. Augustine and Scenic Highway 30A.Visit the guide The Las Vegas Strip at duskNevadaULTIMATE Las VegasThe Strip and its shows, MICHELIN dining, Sphere and Fremont Street’s neon, with Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon beyond.Visit the guide Griffith Observatory with downtown Los Angeles beyondCaliforniaULTIMATE Los AngelesHollywood and the Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills’ grand hotels, the Sunset Strip, the Getty and the beaches from Santa Monica to Malibu.Visit the guide Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami BeachFloridaULTIMATE MiamiSouth Beach and the Art Deco district, Wynwood’s murals, the Design District, Little Havana’s cafecito and the beaches of Key Biscayne.Visit the guide Sunset at the Naples PierFloridaULTIMATE NaplesWhite-sand beaches and sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, Fifth Avenue’s terraces, grand beach resorts and golf, with the Everglades and Marco Island close by.Visit the guide The New York City skyline from Top of the RockNew YorkULTIMATE New YorkManhattan’s grand hotels and MICHELIN dining, Broadway and the Met, Fifth Avenue shopping, Central Park and the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO.Visit the guide The Golden Gate Bridge seen from Battery SpencerCaliforniaULTIMATE San FranciscoCable cars over Nob Hill, North Beach cafés, the murals of the Mission, three-star tables and the Golden Gate Bridge.Visit the guide Goat Cay and the turquoise shallows of the ExumasOur sister guideULTIMATE The BahamasSeven hundred islands: Nassau and Paradise Island, the Exuma Cays and the swimming pigs, Harbour Island’s pink sand, marinas and island hopping.Visit the guide The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. JamesOur sister guideULTIMATE BarbadosThe Platinum West Coast and Sandy Lane, UNESCO-listed Bridgetown, rum where it was born, Friday nights in Oistins and the wild Atlantic east.Visit the guide Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed PitonsOur sister guideULTIMATE St LuciaThe UNESCO Pitons and Soufrière’s drive-in volcano, Marigot Bay, Rodney Bay and the Gros Islet street party, reefs, rum and cocoa.Visit the guide The Grand Palace reflected at dawnThailandULTIMATE BangkokThe Grand Palace and Wat Arun on the river, the grand hotels of Charoen Krung, MICHELIN stars from street food to tasting menus, rooftop bars and the Thai islands.Visit the guide An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the MaldivesOur sister guideULTIMATE MaldivesUndersea restaurants and overwater bars, Hanifaru Bay’s mantas, the whale sharks of South Ari, private islands and the little capital, Malé.Visit the guide The Taj Mahal Palace and the Gateway of India from the harbourIndiaULTIMATE MumbaiThe Taj and the Gateway of India, Marine Drive’s Queen’s Necklace, three UNESCO sites, modern Indian restaurants and day trips to Elephanta and the Ghats.Visit the guide The Lujiazui skyline lit up at night across the Huangpu RiverChinaULTIMATE ShanghaiThe grand hotels of the Bund facing the towers of Pudong, every MICHELIN star, Yu Garden, the two Shanghai Museums and day trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou.Visit the guide A caparisoned elephant in the Esala Perahera procession, KandyOur sister guideULTIMATE Sri LankaColombo, the ramparts of Galle Fort, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the tea country by train, Sigiriya and leopards in Yala.Visit the guide Burj Khalifa and Business Bay at blue hourUnited Arab EmiratesULTIMATE DubaiBurj Khalifa and the Fountain, abras on the Creek, resorts on the Palm, every MICHELIN star of 2026 and day trips to Abu Dhabi and Hatta.Visit the guide

HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

The latest from our readers: visitors and locals talking about Tuscany, its restaurants, theatres, museums and neighbourhoods.

    Have your say in HOT TOPICS

    Uffizi Galleries

    Good to know

    Uffizi Galleries

    Florence·Museum

    Book the Uffizi, the Accademia and the Duomo’s dome climb only on their official websites, well ahead in spring and autumn. The Vasari Corridor has reopened with its own access rules, set by the Uffizi Galleries.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    Plan your day

    Florence Cathedral and Brunelleschi’s dome at dusk, seen from the hillsItineraryA day in FlorenceOne day, on footThe Castello di Brolio above its vineyards in ChiantiItineraryThe Chianti driveOne day, by carAn avenue of cypresses off the Via Cassia in the Val d’OrciaItineraryThe Val d’Orcia in two daysTwo days, by carLucca’s oval Piazza dell’AnfiteatroItineraryPisa, Lucca and VersiliaTwo daysRolling hills and a farmhouse near PienzaItineraryA property-viewing day: Florence and the countrysideTwo days

    Know your regions

    Florence

    The Duomo and the Uffizi, the Ponte Vecchio and the Oltrarno, palace hotels, Enoteca Pinchiorri’s three stars and the hills of Fiesole.

    Chianti

    The Chiantigiana road, the castles and wine estates of Chianti Classico, and starred tables among the vines.

    Siena & San Gimignano

    Siena’s Campo and cathedral, San Gimignano’s towers, Monteriggioni and the abbey of San Galgano.

    The Val d’Orcia

    Pienza, Montalcino and Montepulciano, Brunello and Vino Nobile, Bagno Vignoni and the spa resorts.

    Pisa & Lucca

    The Piazza dei Miracoli, Lucca’s walls and Puccini’s birthplace, the Villa Reale di Marlia and the spa towns.

    Versilia

    Forte dei Marmi’s hotels and five starred restaurants, Viareggio’s seafront, Pietrasanta and the Apuan Alps.

    Bolgheri & the Etruscan Coast

    The cypress avenue, Tenuta San Guido and Ornellaia, and La Pineta on the beach at Marina di Bibbona.

    The Maremma & the Argentario

    Saturnia’s cascades, Pitigliano, the Tarot Garden, the Argentario, Il Pellicano and two-star Caino.

    Arezzo & Cortona

    Arezzo’s Piazza Grande, Etruscan Cortona, Il Borro and Il Falconiere.

    Elba

    Portoferraio and Napoleon’s residences, the beaches of La Biodola, the national park’s trails and the ferries from Piombino.

    Our favourites right now

    Hotels

    1. 1Where to stay in Tuscany: the back storyTuscany · In depth
    2. 2Four Seasons Hotel FirenzeFlorence · Palace hotel
    3. 3Hotel SavoyFlorence · Grand hotel
    See all 55

    Restaurants

    1. 1Tuscany’s MICHELIN stars: the back storyTuscany · In depth
    2. 2Locanda de BanchieriFosdinovo · Fine dining
    3. 3BistrotForte dei Marmi · Fine dining
    See all 64

    Cafés

    1. 1RivoireFlorence · Historic café
    2. 2Procacci 1885Florence · Historic bar
    3. 3VivoliSanta Croce, Florence · Gelateria
    See all 5

    Bars & Wine

    1. 1Harry’s Bar FirenzeFlorence · American bar
    2. 2Le Volpi e l’UvaOltrarno, Florence · Wine bar
    3. 3Hotel bars of the LungarnoFlorence · Hotel bars
    See all 13

    Sights

    1. 1Florence Cathedral, the Dome and the BaptisteryFlorence · Cathedral
    2. 2Galleria dell’AccademiaFlorence · Museum
    3. 3Palazzo VecchioFlorence · Palace and museum
    See all 23

    Art & Music

    1. 1Uffizi GalleriesFlorence · Museum
    2. 2Museo Nazionale del BargelloFlorence · Museum
    3. 3Palazzo StrozziFlorence · Exhibitions
    See all 10

    Gardens & Nature

    1. 1Boboli GardensFlorence · Garden
    2. 2Villa e Giardino BardiniOltrarno, Florence · Garden
    3. 3Villa Reale di MarliaMarlia, Lucca · Villa garden
    See all 7

    Walks

    1. 1Lucca’s wallsLucca · Walk
    2. 2Oltrarno to San MiniatoFlorence · Walk
    3. 3Florence to FiesoleFlorence · Walk
    See all 6

    Shopping

    1. 1Via de’ TornabuoniFlorence · Shopping street
    2. 2The Ponte Vecchio jewellersFlorence · Jewellers
    3. 3Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria NovellaFlorence · Perfumery
    See all 7

    Health & Spas

    1. 1Emergency number 112Tuscany · Emergency
    2. 2Careggi University HospitalFlorence · Hospital
    3. 3Pisa University Hospital (AOU Pisana)Pisa · Hospital
    See all 7

    Property

    1. 1Buying property in Tuscany: the back storyTuscany · In depth
    2. 2Lionard FlorenceFlorence · Estate agent
    3. 3Lionard Forte dei MarmiForte dei Marmi · Estate agent
    See all 6

    Developments

    1. 1Tram T2 to Piazza San MarcoFlorence · Infrastructure
    2. 2Tram T2 extension to Sesto FiorentinoFlorence · Infrastructure
    3. 3Tram T3 to Bagno a RipoliFlorence · Infrastructure
    See all 5

    Motoring

    1. 1The Chiantigiana (SR222)Chianti · Scenic drive
    2. 2Florence’s limited-traffic zone (ZTL)Florence · Driving rules
    3. 3Taxi 4242Florence · Radio taxi
    See all 5

    Getting Around

    1. 1Florence Airport (FLR)Florence · Airport
    2. 2Pisa International Airport (PSA)Pisa · Airport
    3. 3Elba Island AirportMarina di Campo, Elba · Airport
    See all 10

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